Przemyslaw Mroczkowski: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
(This still needs cleaning up - it's still a rip-off of another website and needs to be completely rewritten and thinned out.)
(9 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{cleanup}}
{{rewrite}}<!--Do not remove this tag unless this article is completely rewritten from start to finish-->
[[Image:Przemyslaw Mroczkowski.jpg|Mroczkowski in the late 1960s|frame]]
'''Przemysław Mroczkowski''' ([[28 June]] [[1915]] - [[12 July]] [[2002]]) was a Polish Anglicist and medievalist, and friend of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]].
'''Przemyslaw Mroczkowski''' (alt. spelling: Przemysław Mroczkowski) ([[June 28]], [[1915]] - [[July 12]], [[2002]]) was a Polish Anglicist and medievalist, and friend of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]].


==History==
==History==


Przemysław Mroczkowski was born in Krakow and graduated in 1933. He then started studying Roman languages at the Faculty of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University, graduating in 1938 by defending his thesis. Simultaneously, he had also studied English philology under professor Roman Dyboski.  
Przemysław Mroczkowski was born in Kraków. He completed his high school education with ''[[:wikipedia:matura|matura]]'' in 1933. He then started studying romance languages at the Faculty of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University, graduating in 1938 by defending his thesis. Simultaneously, he had also studied English philology under professor Roman Dyboski.  


At the beginning of the Second World War, Mroczkowski served in the regiment of heavy artillery. Afterwards, he returned to Cracow, where he was arrested by the Gestapo and spent a few weeks in prison in Montelupich. After release from prison, even in times of occupation, he earned his living by teaching languages. After the war he spent a short time as a school teacher in Krakow, and later as a reader at the Academy of Mining and Metallurgy. Mroczkowski spent the 1946-1947 academic year as a Research Fellow at the University of Notre Dame in the U.S., where he worked toward his doctorate in English literature (MA in English Studies acquired in 1946). During a short time after his doctorate, he worked at the Catholic University of Lublin, where for several years he directed the English Department. In the fifties, after 1956, he went to spend a year to Oxford, thanks to Graham Greene, who had visited Poland shortly before. In Oxford he met J.R.R. Tolkien, who acquainted him with the other members of [[The Inklings]].
At the beginning of the Second World War, Mroczkowski served in the regiment of heavy artillery. Afterwards, he returned to Cracow, where he was arrested by the Gestapo and spent a few weeks in the [[:wikipedia:Montelupich prison|Montelupich prison]]. After release from prison, under [[:wikipedia:Occupation of Poland (1939–45)|German occupation of Poland]], he earned his living by teaching languages. After the war he spent a short time as a school teacher in Kraków, and later as a reader at the Academy of Mining and Metallurgy. Mroczkowski spent the 1946-1947 academic year as a Research Fellow at the University of Notre Dame in the United States, where he worked toward his doctorate in English literature (he acquired his master's degree in English Studies in 1946). He obtained the Ph.D. degree in 1947. Shortly after this, he joined the Catholic University of Lublin, where for several years he directed the English Department. As the [[:wikipedia:Polish October|period of Stalinist rule ended in Poland in October 1956]], he went to spend a year to Oxford, thanks to Graham Greene, who had visited Poland shortly before. In Oxford he met J.R.R. Tolkien, who acquainted him with the other members of [[The Inklings]].


Professor Mroczkowski has described his first encounter with Tolkien in an interview with Tomasz Fiałkowskim in the pages of ''Tygodnik Powszechny'' (No. 14, 1994): "It was at the British Council in Oxford, I do not remember all the topics of conversation, but I remember that I presented myself to Tolkien in the following way: I come from Mordor, I come from Mordor ...". In the article, Professor Mroczkowski also described Tolkien in the following way: "(...) a much, much older and more eminent colleague, expert in Old English philology, "Germanist" (in the broad sense) of the highest quality, which since 1925 was a professor at Oxford, and since 1945 held the chair in the local Merton College, joining[?] the linguistics of the early literary period".  
Professor Mroczkowski has described his first encounter with Tolkien in an interview with Tomasz Fiałkowski in the pages of ''Tygodnik Powszechny'' (No. 14, 1994): "It was at the British Council in Oxford, I do not remember all the topics of conversation, but I remember that I presented myself to Tolkien in the following way: ‘I come from Mordor...’. He didn't object to that comparison, although today I understand that he did not refer the recent historical events when he conceived the kingdom". In the article, Professor Mroczkowski also described Tolkien in the following way: "(...) a much older and much more eminent colleague, expert in Old English philology, "Germanist" (in the broad sense) of the highest quality, which since 1925 was a professor at Oxford, and since 1945 held the chair in the local Merton College, where he combined the field of linguistics and the studies of the early literary period".  


Besides Tolkien, Professor Mroczkowski also met some other people from the group around Tolkien: [[C.S. Lewis]], [[Charles Williams]], [[Neville Coghill]] and others. He described the ''The Inklings'' with these words: "The Inklings were a group of really unique people, [...]. They were people thinking in the same way and there were clashes between them and discussions, and thus formed a vibrant community" (ibid.).
Besides Tolkien, Professor Mroczkowski also met some other people from the group around Tolkien: [[C.S. Lewis]], [[Charles Williams]], [[Neville Coghill]] and others. He described the ''The Inklings'' with these words: "The Inklings were a group of really unique people, [...]. They were people thinking in the same way and there were clashes between them and discussions, and thus formed a vibrant community" (ibid.).


Like Tolkien, Mroczkowski was a Catholic. He said that Tolkien "was a very traditional Catholic. Tolkien was unable to reconcile, for instance, the Mass prayed in English and the Latin missal [?]" (ibid.).
Like Tolkien, Mroczkowski was a Catholic. He said that Tolkien "was a very traditional Catholic. For instance, Tolkien had difficulty accepting [[:wikipedia:Mass_of_Paul_VI|the reforms of the Second Vatical Council]] and during the mass that was said in the English language, he still prayed using a Latin-language copy of [[:wikipedia:Roman_Missal#From_the_Council_of_Trent_to_the_Second_Vatican_Council|a liturgy book]]." (ibid.)


About Tolkien's two most famous works of fiction, Mroczkowski said: "I read with great interest '' The Lord of the Rings'' and ''The Hobbit''. [...]Tolkien was primarily a writer - and a teacher and scholar. His creative abilities, moreover, tied with linguistics. They led him to create [fictional] alphabets, grammar, vocabulary. Tolkien was fascinated with words - both the spoken word, [...] and the written word, and finally with the letters as such. I remember that I showed [a book of Tolkien] to prof. George Kuryłowicz, a linguist of international renown, who immediately pointed to the resemblance of Celtic - a special variety of ornamental letter - in Elvish writings invented by Tolkien. The old documents which Tolkien had read Tolkien as a philologist, a scholar, opened for him a fantasy land" (ibid.).
About Tolkien's two most famous works of fiction, Mroczkowski said: "I read with great interest '' The Lord of the Rings'' and ''The Hobbit''. [...]Tolkien was primarily a writer - and a teacher and scholar. His creative abilities, moreover, tied with linguistics. They led him to create [fictional] alphabets, grammar, vocabulary. Tolkien was fascinated with words - both the spoken word, [...] and the written word, and finally with the letters as such. I remember that I have shown a Tolkien's book to prof. [[:wikipedia:Jerzy Kuryłowicz|Jerzy Kuryłowicz]], a linguist of international renown, who immediately pointed out the resemblance of an ornamental variety of the Celtic script to the Elvish writings invented by Tolkien. The old documents which Tolkien had read Tolkien as a philologist, a scholar, opened for him a fantasy land" (ibid.).


In the early 1960s, Professor Mroczkowski returned to Krakow, where he directed the Department of English Philology. From 1975 to 1981 he was director of the newly formed Institute of English Philology. Before he retired, he was given the Order of the British Empire. In 1985, Professor Mroczkowski retired, but still remained an active researcher for many years. He died on July 12, 2002 in Krakow.
In the early 1960s, Professor Mroczkowski returned to Kraków, where he directed the Department of English Philology. From 1975 to 1981 he was director of the newly formed Institute of English Philology. Before he retired, he was given the Order of the British Empire. In 1985, Professor Mroczkowski retired, but still remained an active researcher for many years. He died on July 12, 2002 in Cracow.


==Bibliography, selected==
==Bibliography, selected==
Line 24: Line 23:
**"Uczoność i wyobraźnia w Oxfordzie" ["Scholarship and Imagination in Oxford"]
**"Uczoność i wyobraźnia w Oxfordzie" ["Scholarship and Imagination in Oxford"]
*[[1994]]: ''Tygodnik Powszechny'', nr 14
*[[1994]]: ''Tygodnik Powszechny'', nr 14
**"Oksfordzcy mistrzowie wyobraźni" ["Oxfordian Masters of Imagination"; interview with Tomasz Fiałkowskim]
**"Oksfordzcy mistrzowie wyobraźni" ["Oxfordian Masters of Imagination"; interview with Tomasz Fiałkowski]


Mroczkowski also wrote a number of favorable reviews and opinions about the works of Tolkien, which were published in Poland in the 1960s.
Mroczkowski also wrote a number of favorable reviews and opinions about the works of Tolkien, which were published in Poland in the 1960s.


A selection of Tolkien's correspondance with Mroczkowski, and with his wife Mrs Mroczkowska, can be found in ''[[Christie's Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts 1 June 2009]]''.
A selection of Tolkien's correspondence with Mroczkowski, and with his wife Mrs Mroczkowska, can be found in ''[[Christie's Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts 1 June 2009]]''.


==References==
==References==


*<small>This article is an edited version of "Opowieść o dwóch mediewistach - profesor Tolkien i profesor Mroczkowski" ["A Tale of two Medievalists: Professor Tolkien and Professor Mroczkowski"], written by Dariusz Piwowarczyk and published on ''[http://parmadili.skf.org.pl/sn/mroczkowski.htm Simbelmynë]'' (external link). Since the original article is in Polish, a number of question marks ([?]) are used above to denote especially uncertain translations.</small>
*<small>This article is an edited version of "Opowieść o dwóch mediewistach - profesor Tolkien i profesor Mroczkowski" ["A Tale of two Medievalists: Professor Tolkien and Professor Mroczkowski"], written by Dariusz Piwowarczyk and published on ''[http://parmadili.skf.org.pl/sn/mroczkowski.htm Simbelmynë]'' (external link). </small>


[[CATEGORY:Authors|Mroczkowski, Przemyslaw]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mroczkowski, Przemyslaw}}
[[CATEGORY:Letter receivers|Mroczkowski, Przemyslaw]]
[[Category:Academics]]
[[CATEGORY:Academics|Mroczkowski, Przemyslaw]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[CATEGORY:Polish people|Mroczkowski, Przemyslaw]]
[[Category:Letter receivers]]
[[CATEGORY:People by name|Mroczkowski, Przemyslaw]]
[[Category:People by name]]
[[Category:Polish people]]

Revision as of 08:37, 19 July 2015

"The wise will stay here and hope to rebuild our town..." — Master of Lake-town
This article or section needs to be rewritten to comply with Tolkien Gateway's higher standards...

Przemysław Mroczkowski (28 June 1915 - 12 July 2002) was a Polish Anglicist and medievalist, and friend of J.R.R. Tolkien.

History

Przemysław Mroczkowski was born in Kraków. He completed his high school education with matura in 1933. He then started studying romance languages at the Faculty of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University, graduating in 1938 by defending his thesis. Simultaneously, he had also studied English philology under professor Roman Dyboski.

At the beginning of the Second World War, Mroczkowski served in the regiment of heavy artillery. Afterwards, he returned to Cracow, where he was arrested by the Gestapo and spent a few weeks in the Montelupich prison. After release from prison, under German occupation of Poland, he earned his living by teaching languages. After the war he spent a short time as a school teacher in Kraków, and later as a reader at the Academy of Mining and Metallurgy. Mroczkowski spent the 1946-1947 academic year as a Research Fellow at the University of Notre Dame in the United States, where he worked toward his doctorate in English literature (he acquired his master's degree in English Studies in 1946). He obtained the Ph.D. degree in 1947. Shortly after this, he joined the Catholic University of Lublin, where for several years he directed the English Department. As the period of Stalinist rule ended in Poland in October 1956, he went to spend a year to Oxford, thanks to Graham Greene, who had visited Poland shortly before. In Oxford he met J.R.R. Tolkien, who acquainted him with the other members of The Inklings.

Professor Mroczkowski has described his first encounter with Tolkien in an interview with Tomasz Fiałkowski in the pages of Tygodnik Powszechny (No. 14, 1994): "It was at the British Council in Oxford, I do not remember all the topics of conversation, but I remember that I presented myself to Tolkien in the following way: ‘I come from Mordor...’. He didn't object to that comparison, although today I understand that he did not refer the recent historical events when he conceived the kingdom". In the article, Professor Mroczkowski also described Tolkien in the following way: "(...) a much older and much more eminent colleague, expert in Old English philology, "Germanist" (in the broad sense) of the highest quality, which since 1925 was a professor at Oxford, and since 1945 held the chair in the local Merton College, where he combined the field of linguistics and the studies of the early literary period".

Besides Tolkien, Professor Mroczkowski also met some other people from the group around Tolkien: C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, Neville Coghill and others. He described the The Inklings with these words: "The Inklings were a group of really unique people, [...]. They were people thinking in the same way and there were clashes between them and discussions, and thus formed a vibrant community" (ibid.).

Like Tolkien, Mroczkowski was a Catholic. He said that Tolkien "was a very traditional Catholic. For instance, Tolkien had difficulty accepting the reforms of the Second Vatical Council and during the mass that was said in the English language, he still prayed using a Latin-language copy of a liturgy book." (ibid.)

About Tolkien's two most famous works of fiction, Mroczkowski said: "I read with great interest The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. [...]Tolkien was primarily a writer - and a teacher and scholar. His creative abilities, moreover, tied with linguistics. They led him to create [fictional] alphabets, grammar, vocabulary. Tolkien was fascinated with words - both the spoken word, [...] and the written word, and finally with the letters as such. I remember that I have shown a Tolkien's book to prof. Jerzy Kuryłowicz, a linguist of international renown, who immediately pointed out the resemblance of an ornamental variety of the Celtic script to the Elvish writings invented by Tolkien. The old documents which Tolkien had read Tolkien as a philologist, a scholar, opened for him a fantasy land" (ibid.).

In the early 1960s, Professor Mroczkowski returned to Kraków, where he directed the Department of English Philology. From 1975 to 1981 he was director of the newly formed Institute of English Philology. Before he retired, he was given the Order of the British Empire. In 1985, Professor Mroczkowski retired, but still remained an active researcher for many years. He died on July 12, 2002 in Cracow.

Bibliography, selected

  • 1973: Tygodnik Powszechny, nr 40
    • "Uczoność i wyobraźnia w Oxfordzie" ["Scholarship and Imagination in Oxford"]
  • 1994: Tygodnik Powszechny, nr 14
    • "Oksfordzcy mistrzowie wyobraźni" ["Oxfordian Masters of Imagination"; interview with Tomasz Fiałkowski]

Mroczkowski also wrote a number of favorable reviews and opinions about the works of Tolkien, which were published in Poland in the 1960s.

A selection of Tolkien's correspondence with Mroczkowski, and with his wife Mrs Mroczkowska, can be found in Christie's Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts 1 June 2009.

References

  • This article is an edited version of "Opowieść o dwóch mediewistach - profesor Tolkien i profesor Mroczkowski" ["A Tale of two Medievalists: Professor Tolkien and Professor Mroczkowski"], written by Dariusz Piwowarczyk and published on Simbelmynë (external link).